{"id":40431,"date":"2025-09-22T10:46:32","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T10:46:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hurak.com\/blog\/?p=40431"},"modified":"2025-11-27T17:54:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T17:54:25","slug":"top-10-most-dangerous-towns-in-england","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hurak.com\/blog\/top-10-most-dangerous-towns-in-england","title":{"rendered":"The 10 most dangerous towns in England"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\"Scenic<\/p>

Statistics suggest that crime in England has been increasing, and so has the responsibility of<\/span> front-line and non-front-line<\/a><\/span> staff holding a valid<\/span> SIA licence<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0<\/p>

Some towns in England now report crime levels that make day-to-day security work more complex.<\/span> Retail security<\/a><\/span> teams and business owners across England are facing growing challenges in dealing with crimes like<\/span> shoplifting,<\/span>\u00a0 violence, and antisocial behaviour, especially in certain high-risk towns.<\/span><\/p>

For anyone working in security, whether as a<\/span> door supervisor or a security guard<\/span><\/a>, knowing what to expect is critical.<\/span><\/p>

In this guide, we\u2019ve identified the ten most dangerous places in England with the highest crime rates, using official<\/span> Office for National Statistics<\/a><\/span> (ONS) data. This provides security professionals and business owners with the facts they need to make informed decisions on staffing, coverage, and training.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What Makes a Town \u201cDangerous\u201d?\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>

Towns that appear in our list of the most dangerous places in England are based on certain factors such as theft, assault, criminal damage, and antisocial behaviour.<\/span><\/p>

The focus is on towns with the highest crime rates per 1,000 residents, based on official ONS statistics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

This helps us compare towns fairly, regardless of their population size, and allows us to measure the concentration of crime in each area, rather than just looking at raw numbers.<\/span><\/p>

We\u2019ve also examined the types of crimes most commonly reported in each town, making the data more useful for those working in security or responsible for managing staff in public-facing environments<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Top 10 Most Dangerous Towns in England (Based on Crime Rate)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>

Let\u2019s have a look at the ten most dangerous towns in England, ranked by their overall crime rate per 1,000 residents.<\/span><\/p>

Listed towns have the highest crime rates relative to population size, helping you understand where the most concentrated risks lie.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Table \u2013 Crime Rate in the 10 Most Dangerous Towns (2024 Data)<\/span><\/h3>

Rank<\/b><\/span><\/p><\/td>

Town<\/b><\/span><\/p><\/td>

Region<\/b><\/span><\/p><\/td>

Crime Rate (per 1,000)<\/b><\/span><\/p><\/td>

Most Common Crimes<\/b><\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

1<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Manchester<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Greater Manchester<\/span><\/p><\/td>

172.6<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Violence, theft, and public disorder<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

2<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Middlesbrough<\/span><\/p><\/td>

North Yorkshire<\/span><\/p><\/td>

161.6<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Assault, criminal damage, antisocial behaviour<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

3<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Blackpool<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Lancashire<\/span><\/p><\/td>

157.3<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Violence, drug offences, and shoplifting<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

4<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Hartlepool<\/span><\/p><\/td>

County Durham<\/span><\/p><\/td>

149.2<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Antisocial behaviour, burglary, assault<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

5<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Liverpool<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Merseyside<\/span><\/p><\/td>

149.0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Theft, gang-related violence, and drugs<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

6<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Hull (Kingston upon Hull)<\/span><\/p><\/td>

East Yorkshire<\/span><\/p><\/td>

136.7<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Criminal damage, domestic violence<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

7<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Doncaster<\/span><\/p><\/td>

South Yorkshire<\/span><\/p><\/td>

134.1<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Public disorder, shoplifting, assault<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

8<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Bradford<\/span><\/p><\/td>

West Yorkshire<\/span><\/p><\/td>

132.4<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Violence, knife crime, drugs<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

9<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Leicester<\/span><\/p><\/td>

East Midlands<\/span><\/p><\/td>

125.0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Theft, ASB, robbery<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

10<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Nottingham<\/span><\/p><\/td>

East Midlands<\/span><\/p><\/td>

124.6<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Theft, criminal damage, and burglary<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

Source:<\/strong><\/span><\/i><\/span> ONS crime data for CSPs (Dec 2024)<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>

Now that we\u2019ve seen the crime data at a glance, let\u2019s take a closer look at each town to understand what\u2019s driving the numbers. From types of crime to their impact on daily operations.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Crime Breakdown: What\u2019s Happening in The Roughest Towns in England Towns<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>

While crime rates provide a sense of scale, they don\u2019t always reveal what security teams face on a daily basis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Below, we take a closer look at each town on our list, examining the types of crime that are most common, as well as recent real-world incidents that reflect the challenges on the ground.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Manchester (Crime rate: 172.6 per 1,000)<\/span><\/h3>

Manchester has one of the highest crime rates in England. The city struggles with persistent levels of violent assault, gun crime<\/span><\/a>, theft, and antisocial behaviour, particularly in and around retail centres and nightlife zones.<\/span><\/p>

Recent Incident (25\u202fJan\u202f2025):<\/strong> A 21-year-old man was arrested and later sentenced for the fatal stabbing of 22-year-old Badri Issa in a city-centre layby. His family described Badri as a \u201cpeacemaker.\u201d He tried to intervene in an argument before he was stabbed.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Middlesbrough (Crime rate: 161.6 per 1,000)<\/span><\/h3>

Middlesbrough reports high volumes of violent crime, knife incidents, and antisocial behaviour. The town often sees tensions flare in public areas and residential estates, posing an increased risk for staff working alone or at night.<\/span><\/p>

Recent incident (12 Nov 2024)<\/strong>: 24-year-old Ellis Dismore was convicted of attempted murder after stabbing a 15-year-old girl in the back on a quiet residential street. He targeted her at random, believing she looked \u201cpaedophile-esque.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Blackpool (157.3 per 1,000)<\/span><\/h3>

Blackpool faces frequent incidents of drug offences, robbery, and aggressive shoplifting, particularly in tourist-heavy areas like the seafront and central shopping zones.<\/span><\/p>

Recent Incident (14\u202fFeb\u202f2025)<\/strong>: Three teenage suspects were charged after an armed robbery at a local off-licence. One suspect punched the shop worker before fleeing with the takings from the till.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Hartlepool (149.2 per 1,000)<\/span><\/h3>

Hartlepool continues to face issues with alcohol-fuelled violence, vandalism, and antisocial behaviour, especially in and around licensed premises.<\/span><\/p>

Recent Incident (10\u202fMar\u202f2025)<\/strong>: A 36-year-old male was arrested during a violent altercation outside a well-known pub on Green Lane after he assaulted two men, one with a broken bottle, leaving them with serious facial injuries.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Liverpool (Crime rate: 149.0 per 1,000)<\/span><\/h3>

Liverpool\u2019s crime concerns are closely linked to organised crime, including gang-related violence, illegal weapons, and Class A drug offences.<\/span><\/p>

Recent incident (7 Feb 2025)<\/strong>: Police served warrants across five addresses during a morning operation in North Liverpool, seizing three semi-automatic firearms, knives, and quantities of Class A and B drugs. Three suspects were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply weapons and drugs.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Hull (Kingston upon Hull) (Crime rate: 136.7 per 1,000)<\/span><\/h3>

Hull sees consistent issues with shoplifting, domestic violence, and property damage. Incidents often occur during working hours, affecting retail and public-facing teams.<\/span><\/p>

Recent incident (8 Jan 2025)<\/strong>: A man smashed the front window of a city-centre boutique with a crowbar in broad daylight and was arrested nearby. The cost of repairs exceeded \u00a34,000.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Doncaster (Crime rate: 134.1 per 1,000)<\/span><\/h3>

Doncaster reports rising youth violence, often involving weapons. These are frequently seen in busy public areas, such as bus stations and town centres.<\/span><\/p>

Recent incident (22 Feb 2025)<\/strong>: An altercation involving a group of five teenagers armed with metal poles broke out near the bus station. Three youths were arrested, and two victims were treated for cuts and bruises.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Bradford (Crime rate: 132.4 per 1,000)<\/span><\/h3>

Bradford experiences persistent issues with knife crime and gang violence, with frequent reports of attacks in residential areas and near schools.<\/span><\/p>

Recent incident (18 Mar 2025)<\/strong>: A 17-year-old male was stabbed in the leg outside a takeaway in Manningham. CCTV footage led police to arrest the three suspected gang members.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Leicester (Crime rate: 125.0 per 1,000)<\/span><\/h3>

Leicester\u2019s crime is often linked to commercial break-ins and daytime robberies, affecting city centre businesses and security patrols.<\/span><\/p>

Recent incident (15 Jan 2025)<\/strong>: Armed response units confronted two men after a suspected daylight robbery at a jewellery store. Both suspects were arrested and taken into custody.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Nottingham (Crime rate: 124.6 per 1,000)<\/span><\/h3>

Nottingham sees regular incidents of stabbing, theft, and vandalism, particularly in areas surrounding nightlife venues and university districts.<\/span><\/p>

Recent incident (28 Feb 2025)<\/strong>: Two men suffered stab wounds during an altercation outside a student bar on Burleigh Street. One suspect was later arrested based on witness statements.<\/span><\/p>

The takeaway from these incidents is clear: crime in these towns is varied, severe, and often targeted at public spaces. For security guards, retail managers, and public-facing teams, understanding local crime patterns is crucial for maintaining day-to-day safety, effective incident response planning, and staff training.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Towns vs Cities: A Broader Look at Crime in England<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>

\"London<\/p>

Crime and violence aren\u2019t confined to England\u2019s most significant cities anymore. As we\u2019ve just seen, towns like Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, and Doncaster are reporting crime rates that rival major urban centres.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

But what about the cities themselves?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

To get a complete picture, let\u2019s have a look at the 10 most dangerous cities in England, based on available crime rate data.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in England (2024)<\/span><\/h3>
Rank<\/span><\/strong><\/td>City<\/span><\/strong><\/td>Region<\/span><\/strong><\/td>Crime Rate (per 1,000)<\/span><\/strong><\/td>Key Observations<\/span><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
1<\/span><\/td>Westminster<\/span><\/td>London<\/span><\/td>432.3<\/span><\/td>Theft, robbery, and high assault in tourist zones<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
2<\/span><\/td>Camden<\/span><\/td>London<\/span><\/td>195.2<\/span><\/td>Burglary, pickpocketing, and antisocial behaviour<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
3<\/span><\/td>Birmingham<\/span><\/td>West Midlands<\/span><\/td>137.1<\/span><\/td>Street violence, theft, and drug offences<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
4<\/span><\/td>Leeds<\/span><\/td>West Yorkshire<\/span><\/td>133.0<\/span><\/td>Knife crime, theft, and student area incidents<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
5<\/span><\/td>Coventry<\/span><\/td>West Midlands<\/span><\/td>126.0<\/span><\/td>Youth violence, robbery, and shoplifting<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
6<\/span><\/td>Newcastle<\/span><\/td>Tyne & Wear<\/span><\/td>102.0<\/span><\/td>Alcohol-related violence and disorder in nightlife areas<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
7<\/span><\/td>Sheffield<\/span><\/td>South Yorkshire<\/span><\/td>106.0<\/span><\/td>Property crime and gang-related violence<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
8<\/span><\/td>Cardiff<\/span><\/td>Wales<\/span><\/td>118.0<\/span><\/td>Violent crime, high police activity<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
9<\/span><\/td>Bristol<\/span><\/td>South West<\/span><\/td>117.5<\/span><\/td>Drug offences, burglary clusters<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
10<\/span><\/td>Brighton<\/span><\/td>East Sussex<\/span><\/td>110.0<\/span><\/td>Antisocial behaviour, rising assault cases<\/span><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

Both towns and cities are facing rising threats due to the growing number of reported crimes. The combined lists above highlight some of the most dangerous places in England today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

To stay safe and operate without fear, it\u2019s crucial for business owners\u2014especially those managing venues with high footfall\u2014to invest in SIA-approved contractors<\/span><\/a> and hire well-trained security professionals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

With proper training, security staff can effectively manage challenging situations and play a crucial role in reducing crime, particularly in areas where large public gatherings are common.<\/span><\/p>

Train Your Team to Handle Real-World Threats<\/span><\/h4>

With crime on the rise across both towns and cities, businesses can\u2019t afford to rely on undertrained or unlicensed staff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Whether you’re guarding retail spaces, managing CCTV in public zones, or protecting high-risk individuals, specialised training is essential.<\/span><\/p>